Chandigarh, Sept. 20 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has imposed a cost of Rs.75,000 and directed Chandigarh administration to release bank guarantees of approximately Rs.4 crore to three liquor vends' contractors.

"The court acted on the three petitions involving nine vends, wherein the original allottee transferred the vends licences to someone else and it was approved by the administration. The licensee paid up all requisite fee but the administration refused to release bank guarantee amount to original allottees arguing that some petitions challenging the allotment of liquor vends on the grounds of cartelisation, are still pending before the court and in case those petitions are allowed, vends would have to be re-auctioned ...